What is Gentle Parenting? ✨

I don’t know what I don’t know.

For the past two years, my intention to be a “better parent” became eclipsed by my desire to just be happy.

And so I’ve focused deeply on self-care. I’ve upgraded my negative mindset with a fierce commitment to gratitude - and now my intention has changed.

I am ready to become a soft place for my kids to land. 

And with the birth of the new year just a few short days away, I’m going to spend some time learning as much as I can about Gentle Parenting. Do you have a go-to resource when it comes to this style? Leave a comment below.

What is Gentle Parenting?

Well I looked it up and this stood out from the article I found:

“Aliza Pressman, Ph.D., co-founding director and director of clinical programming for the Mount Sinai Parenting Center, notes, gentle parenting is really just another variation of authoritative parenting. She notes you don't need to get caught up in the semantics of this, as it's really all the same concept: You want to raise a kid with sensitivity and warmth while also measuring out reasonable expectations and boundaries.”

I like this. This type of parenting has always been my intention.

The issue I have with achieving even a small semblance of this type of parenting style however has to do with modeling. I was not brought up this way. No matter how much my mother tried to be different, in the end I was brought up with more of an authoritarian model. My childhood was filled with warmth but it also featured unreachable expectations mixed with confusing and sometimes harsh punishments, impatience, and a demand for perfection.

So now that I like myself again - I am ready to give this type of parenting a try. And of course, it won’t start with jumping in head first - learn the lingo and go! No that never works. I have learned from my healing journey that all new paths start with 2 things: 1. Gratitude 2. Awareness.

So at the beginning of this new year I am prepared to look at each day through the lens of gratitude. And I al willing to watch my actions before I change them - to really notice just exactly what I am saying and doing. The gratitude will help me to notice the good and the mindfulness will help me to notice the present moment.

Between the two I am guessing I will discover I am already doing a great job - and that with a few tweaks I can achieve my newfound intention to be the soft place my children land in a harsh and modern world.

If you would like to join me on my Grateful, Gentle, parenting journey - sign up for my free 12 Weeks of Gratitude Email Series here.

- with thanks, Stef